Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance unit and a reading unit. Based on read image data from the reading unit, a tilt amount of an edge of a document on a leading edge side in a conveyance direction in which the document is conveyed is decided. If the decided tilt amount exceeds a first threshold where a setting that performs document digitalization with respect to the image data, notification is given of information indicating that reading of the document for the document digitalization has failed. If the decided tilt amount is smaller than the first threshold, skew correction is executed for correcting the tilt amount based on the decided tilt amount with respect to the image data, and the document digitalization is executed with respect to the image data for which the skew correction has been executed.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to an image reading apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an image reading apparatus is known that conveys thedocuments placed on a document tray one-by-one, and performs feedscanning whereby an image of a conveyed document is read by an imagesensor.

Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-96154 describes documentdigitalization, such as optical character recognition (hereinafter, OCR)processing for extracting text data from image data that indicates animage read by an image reading apparatus. In OCR processing, charactersare distinguished by comparing the obtained image data with characterpatterns that have been stored in a memory in advance.

When feed scanning is performed, there is a possibility that an image ofa document is read in a state where the leading edge of the document istilted (the document is skewed) relative to the direction perpendicularto the conveyance direction of the document (hereinafter, a mainscanning direction) due to variations in the nip pressures and therotation speeds of rollers that are used in conveyance of the document.As a result, there is a possibility that the read image is tiltedrelative to the main scanning direction.

In a case where OCR processing is performed with respect to an imageobtained through feed scanning, if an image of a document is read in astate where this document is skewed, there is a possibility that theaccuracy of recognition of characters decreases.

Regarding whether characters have been erroneously recognized in OCRprocessing, a user needs to confirm digitalized document data for whichthe OCR processing has been completed, and determine whether characterrecognition has failed. In a case where characters have been erroneouslyrecognized, the user needs to search for a document that has failed inreading from a bundle of discharged documents, in order to re-read thedocument that has failed in the OCR processing. Alternatively, all ofthe bundle of discharged documents need to be re-read from the start.That is to say, in a case where OCR processing is performed with respectto an image obtained through feed scanning, the usability decreases whenthe OCR processing has failed.

SUMMARY

A feature of the present disclosure is to provide a technique tosuppress a decrease in the usability on an image reading apparatus thatperforms document digitalization.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image readingapparatus comprising: a conveyance unit configured to convey a document,a reading unit configured to read the document conveyed by theconveyance unit, and to generate image data indicating an image of thedocument, a notification unit configured to notify a user ofinformation, and one or more controllers configured to performoperations including: deciding, based on the image data, a tilt amountof an edge of the document on a leading edge side in a conveyancedirection in which the document is conveyed, wherein the tilt amountcorresponds to an angle of tilt to a predetermined directionperpendicular to the conveyance direction, controlling, in a case wherethe decided tilt amount exceeds a first threshold in a case of a settingthat performs document digitalization with respect to the image data,the notification unit so as to give notification of informationindicating that reading of the document for the document digitalizationhas failed, and executing, in a case where the decided tilt amount issmaller than the first threshold in the case of the setting thatperforms the document digitalization, skew correction for correcting thetilt amount based on the decided tilt amount with respect to the imagedata, and executing the document digitalization with respect to theimage data for which the skew correction has been executed.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view showing an exemplary externalappearance of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for describing exemplary controlconfigurations of the image forming apparatus according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing timings of obtainment offront-surface image data and back-surface image data stored in an imagememory.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of processing performed by anedge detection unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a tilt of a document at the time ofreading of the document.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary image indicated by binarizeddata input to a document information determination unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processingsystem according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing the flow of processing of feedscanning control in an automatic document reading apparatus according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing one example of a UI screen that is displayedon an operation unit when a jam has occurred in the document readingapparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of an UI screen that isdisplayed after jam processing on the document reading apparatus.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams showing a positionalrelationship between a skewed document that is currently conveyed andskew detection sensors in the document reading apparatus according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing feed scanning control in thedocument reading apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts for describing the flow of documentskew detection processing in step S1505 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for describing feed scanning control in thedocument reading apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for describing feed scanning control performed bya system controller of the document reading apparatus according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an exemplary UI screen that is displayedwhen a jam has occurred in the third embodiment.

FIG. 16B is a diagram showing an exemplary UI screen that is displayedafter jam processing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter indetail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to beunderstood that the following embodiments are not intended to limit theclaims of the present disclosure, and that not all of the combinationsof the aspects that are described according to the following embodimentsare necessarily required. Also, a plurality of features may bearbitrarily combined.

With reference to the drawings, the following describes an exemplaryconfiguration of an automatic document reading apparatus according toembodiments as one example of an image reading apparatus of the presentdisclosure.

First Embodiment [Image Forming Apparatus]

FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a copymachine (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) 100based on a monochrome electro-photographic method used in the presentembodiment. Note that the image forming apparatus is not limited to acopy machine, and may also be, for example, a facsimile apparatus, aprinting machine, a printer, or the like. Furthermore, the printingmethod is not limited to an electro-photographic method, and may alsobe, for example, an inkjet or the like. Moreover, the type of the imageforming apparatus may be either a monochrome type or a color type.

The following describes the configuration and functions of the imageforming apparatus 100 with use of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the imageforming apparatus 100 includes an image reading apparatus 200, whichincludes a document feeding unit 201 and a reading device 202, and animage printing apparatus 301. The document feeding unit 201 is rotatablerelative to the reading device 202.

<Image Reading Apparatus>

A pickup roller 103 as a feeding unit feeds a document 101 loaded on afeeding tray 102 as a stacking unit to the inside of the documentfeeding unit 201. Separation rollers 104 and 105 are provided to preventthe pickup roller 103 from feeding a plurality of documents 101simultaneously. The document 101 fed onto a conveyance path is conveyedby a conveyance roller 106 and a reading roller 107 toward a readingposition A. Note that the separation rollers 104, 105, the conveyanceroller 106, and the reading roller 107 are included in a conveyanceunit.

A transparent glass 108 is placed at the reading position A, and areading unit 109A is provided on the side that opposes the glass 108 viathe conveyance path. The reading unit 109A includes an LED 110, an imagesensor 111, and optical components 112. The image sensor 111 includes aplurality of pixels which extend along the main scanning direction andwhich receive R (red), G (green), and B (blue) light.

The reading unit 109A reads an image of a front surface (first surface)of the document 101 as follows. Specifically, the LED 110 as a lightsource irradiates the front surface of the document 101 with light(light projection) via the glass 108. The optical components 112 directreflected light from the document 101, which is received via the glass108, to the image sensor 111. The image sensor 111 outputs analog imagesignal based on the received reflected light. Note that the image sensor111 reads, at a time, an image corresponding to one line extending alongthe main scanning direction. Therefore, while the document 101 isconveyed, reading of an image corresponding to one line is performed bythe image sensor 111 multiple times; in this way, the image sensor 111can output an image signal that contains the entire document 101. Anon-illustrated A/D conversion unit of the reading unit 109A convertsthe analog image signal into digital image data, and outputs the digitalimage data to a controller 2000 (FIG. 2).

A detection sensor 113 that detects the document 101 is providedupstream relative to the reading position A in the conveyance directionof the document 101. Based on a timing at which the detection sensor 113detected the document 101, the controller 2000 determines a timing atwhich the reading unit 109A starts reading of the document 101.

Pressing rollers 114 and 115 press the document 101 against the glass108. Note that a white guide plate 116 as an opposing member is placedat a position which is between the pressing rollers 114 and 115 andwhich faces the reading unit 109A, that is to say, on the side thatopposes the reading unit 109A via the conveyance path on which thedocument is conveyed.

The document 101 that has passed through the reading position A isconveyed by a conveyance roller 117 toward a reading position B. Atransparent glass 118 is placed at the reading position B, and a readingunit 109B is provided on the side that opposes the glass 118 via theconveyance path. The reading unit 109B is configured similarly to thereading unit 109A, and reads an image of a back surface (second surface)of the document 101. A timing at which the reading unit 109B startsreading, too, is determined based on a timing at which the detectionsensor 113 detected the document. A white guide plate 119 is placed at aposition that faces the reading unit 109B. The document 101 that haspassed through the reading position B is discharged by a dischargeroller 120 onto a discharge tray 121. A white reference plate 122, whichis a reference reading member used in the obtainment of shading data, isprovided on the right side of the glass 108.

<Image Printing Apparatus>

Sheet storage trays 302, 304 are provided inside the image printingapparatus 301. Different types of recording mediums can be storedrespectively in the sheet storage trays 302, 304. For example, A4-sizeplain paper may be stored in the sheet storage tray 302, and A4-sizecardboard may be stored in the sheet storage tray 304. Note thatrecording mediums denote items on which an image is formed by the imageforming apparatus; for example, a sheet of paper, a resin sheet, acloth, an OHP sheet, a label, and the like are included in recordingmediums.

A recording medium stored in the sheet storage tray 302 is fed by apickup roller 303, and sent to a registration roller 308 by a conveyanceroller 306. Also, a recording medium stored in the sheet storage tray304 is fed by a pickup roller 305, and sent to the registration roller308 by conveyance rollers 307 and 306.

Image data output from the image reading apparatus 200 is input to anoptical scanning apparatus 311, which includes a semiconductor laser anda polygonal mirror. Also, a charger 310 charges the outercircumferential surface of a photosensitive drum 309. After the outercircumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 309 has been charged,the optical scanning apparatus 311 irradiates the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 309 with laser light corresponding toan image signal, which has been input from the image reading apparatus200 to the optical scanning apparatus 311, via the polygon mirror andmirrors 312, 313. As a result, an electro-static latent image is formedon the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 309.

Next, the electro-static latent image is developed by toner inside adeveloper 314, and a toner image is formed on the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 309. The toner image formed on thephotosensitive drum 309 is transferred to the recording medium by atransfer charger 315 provided at a position that opposes thephotosensitive drum 309 (a transfer position). The registration roller308 sends the recording medium to the transfer position in accordancewith a transfer timing at which the transfer charger 315 transfers theimage to the recording medium.

The recording medium to which the toner image has been transferred inthe foregoing manner is sent to a fixing unit 318 by a conveyance belt317, and the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heat andpressure applied to the recording medium by the fixing unit 318. In thisway, the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a recordingmedium.

In a case where image formation is performed in a single-sided printmode, the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 318is discharged to a non-illustrated discharge tray by discharge rollers319, 324. On the other hand, in a case where image formation isperformed in a double-sided print mode, after the fixing unit 318 hasperformed fixing processing with respect to the first surface of therecording medium, the recording medium is conveyed to an inverting path325 by the discharge roller 319, a conveyance roller 320, and aninverting roller 321. Thereafter, the recording medium is conveyed tothe registration roller 308 by conveyance rollers 322, 323 via adouble-sided conveyance path 326, and an image is formed on the secondsurface of the recording medium based on the above-described method.Thereafter, the recording medium is discharged to a non-illustrateddischarge tray by the discharge rollers 319, 324.

Furthermore, in a case where the recording medium with an image formedon the first surface thereof is to be discharged face-down to theoutside of the image forming apparatus 100, the recording medium thathas passed through the fixing unit 318 is conveyed in the directiontoward the conveyance roller 320 via the discharge roller 319.Thereafter, the rotation of the conveyance roller 320 is invertedimmediately before the trailing edge of the recording medium passesthrough a nip portion of the conveyance roller 320; as a result, therecording medium is discharged to the outside of the image formingapparatus 100 via the discharge roller 324 in a state where the firstsurface of the recording medium is facing down.

The configuration and functions of the image forming apparatus 100 areas described above.

<Control Configurations>

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for describing examples of controlconfigurations of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment. First, a control configuration of the image printingapparatus 301 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, a system controller 151 of the image printingapparatus 301 includes a CPU 151 a, a ROM 151 b, and a RAM 151 c. Also,the system controller 151 is connected to an analog/digital (A/D)converter 153, a high-voltage controller 155, a motor controller 600, asensor group 159, and an AC driver 160. The system controller 151 canexchange data and commands with each unit connected thereto.

The CPU 151 a executes various types of sequences related to apredetermined image forming sequence by reading out and executingvarious types of programs stored in the ROM 151 b.

The RAM 151 c is a storage device. The RAM 151 c stores, for example,various types of data, such as setting values for the high-voltagecontroller 155 and instruction values for the motor controller 600.

The system controller 151 receives signals from the sensor group 159,and sets the setting values for the high-voltage controller 155 based onthe received signals.

The high-voltage controller 155 supplies necessary voltage to ahigh-voltage unit 156 (the charger 310, the developer 314, the transfercharger 315, etc.) in accordance with the setting values set by thesystem controller 151.

The motor controller 600 controls a motor 509, which drives the loadsprovided in the image printing apparatus 301, in accordance withinstructions output from the CPU 151 a.

The A/D converter 153 receives a detection signal detected by athermistor 154, which is intended to detect the temperature of a fixingheater 161, converts the detection signal from an analog signal into adigital signal, and transmits the digital signal to the systemcontroller 151. The system controller 151 controls the AC driver 160based on the digital signal received from the A/D converter 153. The ACdriver 160 controls the fixing heater 161 so that the temperature of thefixing heater 161 matches the temperature that is necessary forperforming the fixing processing. Note that the fixing heater 161 is aheater used in the fixing processing, and is included in the fixing unit318.

In the foregoing manner, the system controller 151 controls operationsequences of the image forming apparatus 100.

Next, a control configuration of the image reading apparatus 200 will bedescribed. A CPU 203 controls the image reading apparatus 200 byexecuting a program stored in a nonvolatile memory 209.

A conveyance motor 212 is a driving source for each roller provided inthe document feeding unit 201, and is rotatably driven under control ofthe controller 2000.

An operation unit 213 provides user interfaces. The CPU 203 controls theoperation unit 213 so as to display, on a display unit provided in theoperation unit 213, an operation screen that allows a user to set, forexample, the type of a recording medium to be used (hereinafter referredto as a paper type). The CPU 203 receives information set by the userfrom the operation unit 213, and outputs the information set by the userto the system controller 151.

The system controller 151 transmits information indicating the state ofthe image forming apparatus 100 to the operation unit 213. Note that theinformation indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 100 is,for example, information related to the number of sheets on which imagesare to be formed, the status of progress of an image forming operation,a jam and multi-feeding of sheets in the image printing apparatus 301and the document feeding unit 201, and the like. The operation unit 213displays the information received from the system controller 151 on thedisplay unit.

The reading units 109A and 109B output digital image data to thecontroller 2000. A numerical value of this image data increases as theintensity of reflected light increases. Hereinafter, this numericalvalue level is referred to as a luminance level. Furthermore,hereinafter, image data output from the reading unit 109A is denoted asfront-surface image data, whereas image data output from the readingunit 109B is denoted as back-surface image data.

The front-surface image data output from the reading unit 109A is inputto a shading circuit 204A, and the back-surface image data output fromthe reading unit 109B is input to a shading circuit 204B. The shadingcircuits 204A and 204B correct the influence of non-uniformity in thelight amount of the LED 110 and unevenness in the sensitivities ofrespective pixels in the image sensor 111 by performing calculationinvolving addition/subtraction and multiplication/division with respectto image data (shading correction), thereby generating image data thatis uniform in the main scanning direction.

The front-surface image data after the shading correction performed bythe shading circuit 204A is stored to an image memory 205. On the otherhand, the back-surface image data after the shading correction performedby the shading circuit 204B is input to an image inverting circuit 210.

The image inverting circuit 210 inverts the main scanning direction ofthe back-surface image data. This is because, in the present embodiment,the reading unit 109A and the reading unit 109B are configured in asimilar manner, and an image read by the reading unit 109B is invertedin the main scanning direction relative to an image read by the readingunit 109A. The back-surface image data after the processing performed bythe image inverting circuit 210 is stored to the image memory 205.

The image reading apparatus 200 is connected to an informationprocessing system constructed via a network 400, which is shown in FIG.7, via a network IF 211.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing timings of obtainment offront-surface image data and back-surface image data stored in the imagememory 205.

After the conveyance of the document 101 is started at time t0, thedetection sensor 113 detects the leading edge of the document 101 attime t1. The CPU 203 determines time t2, which precedes the arrival ofthe document 101 at the reading position A based on the time t1, basedon the conveyance speed at which the document 101 is conveyed, forexample. Then, the CPU 203 stores front-surface image data output fromthe reading unit 109A to the image memory 205 for a predetermined timeperiod from time t2. Note, it is assumed that this predetermined timeperiod is a period until at least the trailing edge of the document 101goes past the reading position A. This predetermined time period isobtained based on the conveyance speed of the document 101. Similarly,the CPU 203 determines time t3, which precedes the arrival of thedocument 101 at the reading position B based on time t1. Then, the CPU203 stores back-surface image data output from the reading unit 109B inthe image memory 205 for a predetermined time period from time t3. Notethat the CPU 203 may start the reading performed by the reading unit109A and store the front-surface image data in the image memory 205 attime t2, or may store the front-surface image data from the reading unit109A that performs the reading from before time t2 in the image memory205. Also, the CPU 203 may start the reading performed by the readingunit 109B and store the back-surface image data in the image memory 205at time t3, or may store the back-surface image data from the readingunit 109B that performs the reading from before time t3 in the imagememory 205. Note that in the following description, it is assumed thatan image indicated by front-surface image data is also referred to as afront-surface image, and an image indicated by back-surface image datais also referred to as a back-surface image.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front-surface image data output from the shadingcircuit 204A is also input to an edge detection unit 206. Furthermore,the back-surface image data output from the image inverting circuit 210is also input to the edge detection unit 206. While the followingdescribes correction of front-surface image data, back-surface imagedata is also corrected in a similar manner.

FIGS. 4A, 4B are explanatory diagrams of processing performed by theedge detection unit 206. FIGS. 4A, 4B show views illustrating an imageobtained by combining, in the sub scanning direction, pixel columnsalong the main scanning direction that were obtained by the reading unit109A from time t2 at a predetermined time interval.

As stated earlier, the front-surface image data input to the edgedetection unit 206 is data from time t2, which precedes the arrival ofthe leading edge of the document 101 at the reading position A in theconveyance direction. That is to say, once the reading unit 109A hasstarted reading an image, the guide plate 116 is read first. Thereafter,an image of the document 101 is read as the document 101 is conveyed.That is to say, the front-surface image data input to the edge detectionunit 206 includes image data indicating the guide plate 116 and imagedata indicating an edge of the document 101 on the leading edge side.

The edge detection unit 206 executes binarization processing withrespect to the front-surface image data while regarding a regioncorresponding to a total of nine pixels, which are composed of threepixels in the main scanning direction and three pixels in the subscanning direction, as one block. Hereinafter, it is assumed that thenumber of pixels in the reading units 109A and 109B in the main scanningdirection is 7488, and the reading units 109A and 109B perform thereading 12000 times during the aforementioned predetermined time period.Also, a pixel position in the main scanning direction is denoted as n(0≤n≤7487), and a pixel position in the sub scanning direction isdenoted as m (0≤m≤11999). Furthermore, it is assumed that the luminancevalues of nine pixels in one block are px (x=0 to 8), and the maximumvalue and the minimum value thereof are denoted as pmax and pmin,respectively.

In an area where all nine pixels correspond to the guide plate 116(white), as with point A in FIG. 4A, all nine pixels represent whitepixels, and thus the difference between pmax and pmin has a small value.On the other hand, on a boundary between the guide plate 116 (white) andthe shadow (gray) of the edge of the document 101 on the leading edgeside, as with point B of FIG. 4A, white pixels and gray pixels coexistamong nine pixels, and thus the difference between pmax and pmin islarge. Therefore, when the difference between pmax and pmin is largerthan a predetermined threshold pth, it can be determined that the blockincludes a pixel that serves as a candidate for the shadow created bythe edge of the document 101 on the leading edge side (hereinafterreferred to as a candidate pixel). In the first embodiment, when thedifference between pmax and pmin inside a block is larger than thepredetermined threshold pth, the central pixel of this block (the pixelat the coordinates (n, m)) is determined to be the candidate pixel. Theedge detection unit 206 performs this determination processing withrespect to each n and each m, except for n=0, n=7487, m=0, and m=11999.Note that in the first embodiment, one scale on the x-axis and y-axiscorresponds to a distance between the central positions of twoneighboring pixels.

FIG. 4A depicts a view illustrating an image indicated by image data of8 bits (luminance levels: 0 to 255), and FIG. 4B depicts a viewillustrating an image indicated by image data that has been obtained bybinarizing the image data of the image of FIG. 4A based on a thresholdpth=14. White portions in FIG. 4B represent row of pixels that have beendetermined to be the candidates for the shadow created by the edge ofthe document 101 on the leading edge side through the aforementionedprocessing. Among the plurality of candidate pixels shown in FIG. 4B, arow of candidate pixels along the main scanning direction that isclosest to the leading edge side in the sub scanning direction (anuppermost row of pixels along the main scanning direction that wasdetermined to be the candidate pixels first in the sub scanningdirection) is determined to be the shadow created by the edge, or theend portion, of the document 101 on the leading edge side.

As shown in FIG. 2, binarized data output from the edge detection unit206 is input to a document information determination unit 207.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a tilt of a document at the time ofreading of the document.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary image indicated by binarizeddata input to the document information determination unit 207.

The image indicated by the binarized data input to the documentinformation determination unit 207 is an image in a range indicated by adash line of FIG. 6, and includes the document 101. This range of thedash line is represented by n=0 to 7487, m=0 to 11999.

The document information determination unit 207 determines documentinformation of the front surface (hereinafter, front-surface documentinformation) based on the input binarized data. The document informationdetermination unit 207 also determines the distance (width) W in themain scanning direction between two corner portions of the document 101on the leading edge side. Then, the document information determinationunit 207 outputs the front-surface document information and the width Wto the CPU 203. Here, the front-surface document information isinformation that includes the position and the angle of the document inthe front-surface image. Note that the position of the document 101 isthe position (x1, y1) represented by a first position of the document101 inside the front-surface image. In the present embodiment, it isassumed that this first position is one corner portion (on the left sideof FIG. 5) included among the two corner portions of the document 101 onthe leading edge side. Also, the angle of the document 101 is the angleof a predetermined edge of the document 101 inside the front-surfaceimage relative to a reference direction of the front-surface image. Inthe present embodiment, it is assumed that this predetermined edge isthe edge of the document 101 on the leading edge side, and the referencedirection is the main scanning direction (predetermined direction). Thatis to say, the angle of the document 101 is θ1 of FIG. 5. Note, it isassumed that the angle θ1 takes a negative value in a case where theedge of the document 101 on the leading edge is tilted in such a mannerthat it is located upstream relative to the position (x1, y1) in theconveyance direction, and the angle θ1 takes a positive value in a casewhere the shadow created by the edge of the document 101 on the leadingedge side is tilted in such a manner that it is located downstreamrelative to the position (x1, y1).

The CPU 203 outputs the front-surface document information, namely theposition (x1, y1) and the angle θ1, to an image processing unit 208.

The image processing unit 208 reads out front-surface image data storedin the image memory 205 based on the position (x1, y1) and the angle θ1.Specifically, using the readout start position (x1, y1) as an originpoint, the image processing unit 208 reads out image data along thedirection parallel to the edge of the document 101 on the leading edgeside.

After performing the readout from the position (x1, y1) by an amountcorresponding to the width W along the direction parallel to the shadow,the image processing unit 208 performs the readout from the position(x2, y2) by the amount corresponding to the width W along the directionparallel to the shadow. Note that x2, y2 are expressed by, for example,the following formulae.

x2=x1−tan θ1   formula (1)

y2=y1+1   formula (2)

Note that although x2, y2 are decided on based on the aforementionedformulae (1), (2) in the first embodiment, no limitation is intended bythis.

In the foregoing manner, the image processing unit 208 readsfront-surface image data stored in the image memory up to the edge ofthe document on the trailing edge side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the image that has been read out by theimage processing unit 208. As shown in FIG. 6, as a result of readingout image data by the amount corresponding to the width W along thedirection parallel to the edge on the leading edge side, the edge of thedocument on the leading edge side becomes parallel to the main scanningdirection. Note that a similar process is performed with respect toback-surface image data. Hereinafter, these processes are referred to asa skew correction process.

When printing is to be performed by the image printing apparatus 301,the image processing unit 208 outputs image data to which the skewcorrection process has been applied to the system controller 151. Thesystem controller 151 cuts out an image region to be printed from theimage data output from the image processing unit 208. Specifically, forexample, based on the position (0, 0) of the image data output from theimage processing unit 208, which is shown in FIG. 6, the systemcontroller 151 crops the image data in accordance with the size of therecording medium that has been set by the user with use of the operationunit 213. The system controller 151 controls the image printingapparatus 301 so that printing is performed based on the cropped imagedata. That is to say, the system controller 151 functions as an externaldevice.

Furthermore, after the image processing unit 208 has implementedpredetermined image processing, such as color determination, image fileconversion, and document digitalization (e.g., OCR processing), theimage processing unit 208 stores the image data after the imageprocessing in the image memory 205. Image files and document filesstored in the image memory 205 are transmitted via the network IF 211 toa cloud server 405 (FIG. 7) connected via, for example, the Internet andpublic lines. In this way, the cloud server 405 can perform documentdigitalization (e.g., OCR processing) with higher accuracy. Imagedocument files to which document digitalization has thus been appliedare stored in the image memory 205 again. Alternatively, they are storedto a file server 407 in the network 400, or transmitted to userterminals 404, 406 (FIG. 7) in the network. That is to say, externaldevices include not only the system controller 151 provided in the imageforming apparatus 100, but also user terminals such as a smartphone, atablet, and a PC, filer servers, and the like.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of the informationprocessing system according to the first embodiment.

In this system, the cloud server 405 connected to a cloud network 401 isconnected to the network 400. The file server 407, the image readingapparatus 200, and the user terminals 404, 406 are further connected tothis network 400. Note that although only the image reading apparatus200 is shown as an image reading apparatus in FIG. 7, a plurality ofimage reading apparatuses may be connected to the network 400.

Next, feed scanning in the first embodiment will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing the flow of processing of feedscanning according to the first embodiment. The processing indicated bythis flowchart is started by the CPU 203 when an external device, suchas a user terminal, or the operation unit 213 has input an instructionfor starting the feed scanning to the CPU 203.

In step S801, when an instruction for executing document digitalizationhas been issued, processing proceeds to step S802, and the CPU 203 turnsON a flag indicating that the skew and jam detection is enabled, andsets a first threshold as a threshold. Note that in the firstembodiment, a state where the angle θ1 has exceeded the threshold isreferred to as skew and jam. The first threshold is decided on based onthe maximum permissible skew range of document digitalization. Themaximum permissible skew range is, for example, the maximum angle ofskew angles that allow document digitalization to be executed with highaccuracy. The maximum permissible range of document digitalization maybe obtained from a command received from the external device or theoperation unit 213, or may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 209 inadvance. The first threshold is decided on using the following formula(3).

[First threshold]=[maximum permissible skew range of documentdigitalization]+[maximum skew correction amount]  (formula 3)

Note that the maximum skew correction amount is the maximum correctableangle in the skew correction process performed by the image processingunit 208. The maximum skew correction amount is set in accordance with,for example, the capacity of the image memory 205 and the like. In acase where the skew correction process is to be executed, the imageprocessing unit 208 performs the skew correction process so that animage is rotated by the angle θ1 when the angle θ1 is equal to orsmaller than the maximum skew correction amount, and performs the skewcorrection process so that an image is rotated by the maximum skewcorrection amount when the angle θ1 is larger than the maximum skewcorrection amount.

On the other hand, when the instruction for executing documentdigitalization has not been issued in step S801, processing proceeds tostep S803. Note that when the instruction for executing documentdigitalization in the image processing unit 208 and the cloud server 405has not been issued, the image processing unit 208 may or may notperform the skew correction process. In a case where the skew correctionprocess is to be performed, the image processing unit 208 performs theskew correction process so that an image is rotated by the angle θ1 whenthe angle θ1 is equal to or smaller than the maximum skew correctionamount. Also, in a case where the skew correction process is to beperformed, the image processing unit 208 may perform the skew correctionprocess so that an image is rotated by the maximum skew correctionamount, or may not perform the skew correction process, when the angleθ1 is larger than the maximum skew correction amount.

Next, in step S803, the CPU 203 starts feeding a document.

Next, when the output of the detection sensor 113 has become ON in stepS804, the CPU 203 starts reading the document based on theabove-described method in step S805.

Next, when the skew and jam flag is ON, that is to say, the skew and jamdetection is enabled in step S806, processing proceeds to step S807.When the angle θ1 is larger than the threshold in step S807, the CPU 203stops the conveyance of the document in step S808. Then, in step S809,the user is notified of information indicating that the reading of thedocument has failed by displaying the information on the display unit ofthe operation unit 213. Note that the information indicating that thereading has failed includes information indicating that documentdigitalization cannot be performed appropriately because the angle θ1 islarger than the threshold. Thereafter, in step S810, the CPU 203discontinues the reading of the document, and ends the present feedscanning control.

On the other hand, when the angle θ1 is equal to or smaller than thethreshold in step S807, processing proceeds to step S811. When the angleθ1 is equal to or smaller than the maximum skew correction amount instep S811, the CPU 203 controls the image processing unit 208 so thatthe skew correction process is performed based on the angle θ1 in stepS812. Thereafter, in step S813, the CPU 203 controls the imageprocessing unit 208 so that document digitalization is executed withrespect to image data to which the skew correction process has beenapplied. As a result, document digitalization is performed. Note thatalthough document digitalization is executed by the image processingunit 208 in the first embodiment, no limitation is intended by this. Forexample, document digitalization may be executed by the cloud server405. In this case, the CPU 203 controls the image processing unit 208 sothat image data to which the skew correction process has been applied isoutput to the cloud server 405. Also, document digitalization may beexecuted by both of the image processing unit 208 and the cloud server405.

On the other hand, when the angle θ1 is larger than the maximum skewcorrection amount in step S811, the CPU 203 controls the imageprocessing unit 208 so that the skew correction process is performedbased on the maximum skew correction amount in step S814, and processingproceeds to step S813.

On the other hand, when the skew and jam flag is OFF in step S806,processing proceeds to step S815. When the angle θ1 is equal to orsmaller than the maximum skew correction amount in step S815, the CPU203 controls the image processing unit 208 so that the skew correctionprocess is performed based on the angle θ1 in step S816. Thereafter,processing proceeds to step S817, and the CPU 203 controls the imageprocessing unit 208 so as to output image data to which the skewcorrection process has been applied. Specifically, for example, in acase where printing is to be executed, the image data is output to theimage printing apparatus 301.

On the other hand, when the angle θ1 is larger than the maximum skewcorrection amount in step S815, processing proceeds to step S818, theCPU 203 controls the image processing unit 208 so that the skewcorrection process is performed based on the maximum skew correctionamount, and processing proceeds to step S817.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing one example of a UI screen that is displayedon the operation unit 213 when a jam has occurred in the image readingapparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, FIGS. 10A,10B are diagrams showing examples of a UI screen that is displayed afterjam processing on the image reading apparatus 200.

Note that when the user is notified of the failure in the reading of thedocument in step S809 of FIG. 8, the CPU 203 displays, for example, thejam notification screen shown in FIG. 9 on the operation unit 213. Thescreen of FIG. 9 displays, for example, the occurrence of a jam (skewand jam), as well as a message and an illustration representing aninstruction for opening a cover and removing a jammed document in orderto recover from this jammed state. Once the CPU 203 has confirmed thatevery document remaining inside the document feeding unit 201 has beenremoved, it confirms the setting of restart processing following the jamdetection. Note that whether every document remaining inside thedocument feeding unit 201 has been removed is confirmed based on anon-illustrated sheet sensor provided on the conveyance path in thedocument feeding unit 201. The setting of the restart processing isstored in, for example, the nonvolatile memory 209. This settingincludes an intermediate return mode for restarting the reading from thejammed document, or an entire return mode for re-reading all documentsfrom the start of a bundle of documents; it is possible to set whichmode is to be selected via the operation unit 213 in advance.

When the setting of the jam restart processing is the intermediatereturn mode, the CPU 203 displays, for example, an intermediate returnscreen shown in FIG. 10A on the display unit of the operation unit 213.On the other hand, when the setting of the restart processing is theentire return mode, the CPU 203 discards image data up to that pointthat has been stored in the image memory 205. Then, the CPU 203displays, for example, an entire return screen shown in FIG. 10B on thedisplay unit of the operation unit 213. Once an instruction for startingre-reading of the document has been input, the CPU 203 starts readingthe document.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, in a case wherethe skew amount of a document has exceeded the permissible range ofdocument digitalization at the time of document digitalization, thereading of the document is immediately stopped, and the user is notifiedof the failure in the reading. In this way, whether the reading of thedocument has succeeded or failed can be determined before reading alldocuments. As a result, whether the reading of the document hassucceeded or failed can be confirmed in a short period of time comparedto a case where the user confirms whether the reading of documents hasfailed after reading all documents. That is to say, a decrease in theusability of the image reading apparatus can be suppressed. Furthermore,when the intermediate return setting has been configured, the readingcan be restarted from the document that has failed in the reading, whichbrings about an additional advantageous effect whereby a time periodrequired for the user to re-read the document can be shortened. That isto say, a decrease in the usability of the image reading apparatus canbe suppressed.

Second Embodiment

The following describes, as a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure, control for a case where the skew amount is detected usingsimpler skew detection sensors without performing a skew detection andcorrection process of the image processing unit 208. Note that aconfiguration of a printing system, a hardware configuration of adocument reading apparatus, and the like according to the secondembodiment are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment,and thus a description thereof is omitted.

First, skew detection control that uses skew detection sensors accordingto the second embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams showing a positionalrelationship between a skewed document that is currently conveyed andskew detection sensors 1101 in the image reading apparatus 200 accordingto the second embodiment. The upper parts of FIGS. 11A to 11C arecross-sectional views of the periphery of the skew detection sensors1101, and the lower parts thereof are plan views in which the conveyancepath around the skew detection sensors 1101 is laid out on a plane. Thedash and double-dot lines connecting between the cross-sectional viewand the plan view indicate correspondence between the positions ofsensors and rollers in each diagram. Note that in FIGS. 11A to 11C, thedocument moves from right to left.

The skew detection sensors 1101 include two sensors 1101 a, 1101 b. Eachof the skew detection sensors 1101 a, 1101 b is a sensor for detectingthe leading edge of the document, and is composed of, for example, anoptical sensor and the like. As shown in FIG. 11A, the skew detectionsensors 1101 a, 1101 b are placed in such a manner that two of them arealigned with each other along the direction perpendicular to theconveyance direction, with an interval therebetween. Therefore, when thedocument is not skewed, the skew detection sensors 1101 a, 1101 b detectthe leading edge of the document substantially simultaneously.

On the other hand, when the document is skewed, there is a temporal gapbetween the first detection of the leading edge of the document by onesensor, and the subsequent detection of the leading edge of the documentby the other sensor. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the skewdetection sensor 1101 a detects the leading edge of the document. Then,as the feeding and conveyance of the document further progress, the skewdetection sensor 1101 b detects the leading edge of the document asshown in FIG. 11C. In this case, the approximate skew amount of thedocument can be calculated based on an elapsed time period from thedetection of the leading edge of the document by one sensor to thedetection of the leading edge of the document by the other sensor.

Now, assume that the conveyance speed of the document is V [mm/s], theinterval between the skew detection sensor 1101 a and the skew detectionsensor 1101 b in the width direction is W [mm], and the elapsed timeperiod from the detection of the leading edge of the document by onesensor to the detection of the leading edge of the document by the othersensor is t [s]. In this case, provided that the skew amount of thisdocument is θo, the following formula (4) holds.

t=W×tanθ o÷V   formula (4)

In the second embodiment, in a case where the document is skewed by thethreshold θ or more, feeding and conveyance processing of the documentis suspended, and driving of motors in a conveyance system is stopped.That is to say, a time period tθ corresponding to the threshold θ isobtained from the following formula (5).

tθ=W×tanθ÷V   formula (5)

In a case where the other detection sensor has not detected the leadingedge of the document before the time period tθ elapses since thedetection of the leading edge of the document by one skew detectionsensor, it is determined that the document is skewed by an amount thatexceeds the threshold θ, and the feeding and conveyance processing ofthe document is suspended.

Note that the larger the interval between the skew detection sensors,the larger the temporal difference t between the detections performed bythe sensors with respect to the skew amount θo. Therefore, in order toset the largest possible interval between the two skew detection sensors1101 a, 1101 b, it is desirable to place them at the positions close tothe edges of the document in the width direction. However, in the secondembodiment, in order to enable the skew detection sensors 1101 a, 1101 bto detect the leading edge of the document even when the document hasthe smallest size that can be conveyed in the image reading apparatus200, the skew detection sensors 1101 a, 1101 b are placed so that theyare close to the edges of the document in the width direction when thedocument being fed and conveyed has the smallest size.

The following describes feed scanning control for a case where the skewamount of the document is detected using the skew detection sensorsaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing the feed scanning control in theimage reading apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment.Processing indicated by this flowchart is achieved by the CPU 203executing a program.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts for describing the flow of documentskew detection processing in step S1205 of FIG. 12.

The processing indicated by the flowchart of FIG. 12 is started when theCPU 203 has received a feed scanning start command. First, in stepS1201, the CPU 203 determines whether document digitalization is to beperformed. When document digitalization is to be performed, the skew andjam detection is enabled and a first threshold is stored as a skew andjam threshold in step S1202. Here, while the first threshold is decidedon based on the maximum permissible skew range of documentdigitalization as described earlier, the skew correction process is notperformed in the second embodiment. Therefore, the maximum permissibleskew range of document digitalization is used as the first threshold.Accordingly, it is determined that skew and jam have occurred when theskew amount has exceeded the maximum permissible skew range of documentdigitalization. Furthermore, when document digitalization is not to beperformed, the skew and jam detection may be disabled. Alternatively,even when document digitalization is not to be performed, if the imageskew is desired to be suppressed, it is permissible to enable the skewand jam detection, store a second threshold that is different from thefirst threshold as the threshold, and perform the skew and jamdetection. In this case, the maximum skew amount that allows a documentto be conveyed on the conveyance path may be used as the secondthreshold.

Upon completion of processing for setting the skew and jam threshold instep S1202 in the foregoing manner, processing proceeds to step S1203,and the CPU 203 sets a reading resolution and a color mode on the imagereading apparatus 200 and performs reading preparation processing, suchas shading processing. Then, the CPU 203 starts feeding, as well asdriving of the conveyance motor 212, thereby starting feeding of adocument. At this time, a separation motor is driven so as to lower thepickup rollers to the surface of the document and rotate the pair ofseparation rollers, thereby feeding the document. Next, processingproceeds to step S1204, and the CPU 203 determines whether the skew andjam detection is enabled; when it is determined that the skew and jamdetection is enabled, processing proceeds to step S1205, and the CPU 203performs the skew detection processing indicated by the flowchart ofFIGS. 13A and 13B. On the other hand, when it is determined that theskew and jam detection is not enabled, processing proceeds to stepS1207.

In the skew detection processing shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the CPU 203starts measuring a conveyance period from the start of skew detection,which is used as a reference for skew detection, in step S1301. Then,processing proceeds to step S1302, and the CPU 203 confirms the outputfrom the rear side sensor 1101 b. When the output from the rear sidesensor 1101 b has become ON, it means that the output from the rear sidesensor 1101 b indicates that the leading edge of the document has beendetected. Thus, processing proceeds to step S1303, and the CPU 203stores a conveyance time period from when the skew detection was startedto when the output from the rear side sensor 1101 b became ON as a firstconveyance time period to the nonvolatile memory 209. Next, processingproceeds to step S1304, and the CPU 203 determines whether the outputfrom the front side sensor 1101 a became ON. When the output from thefront side sensor 1101 a is OFF, processing proceeds to step S1305, andthe CPU 203 determines whether a conveyance time period from thedetection of the leading edge of the document by the rear side sensor1101 b, which is obtained based on the conveyance time period from thestart of skew detection and the first time conveyance period, hasexceeded an upper limit conveyance time period. When it is determinedthat the upper limit conveyance time period has not been exceeded,processing proceeds to step S1304, and the CPU 203 determines whetherthe output from the front side sensor 1101 a became ON again.

When the output from the front side sensor 1101 a became ON in stepS1304 before the conveyance time period from the detection of theleading edge of the document by the rear side sensor 1101 b exceeds theupper limit conveyance time period in step S1305, processing proceeds tostep S1306. In step S1306, the CPU 203 stores a time period that hasthus elapsed as a second conveyance time period to the nonvolatilememory 209. Then, it is determined that the skew detection hassucceeded, processing proceeds to step S1307, the CPU 203 calculates theskew amount (angle θ1) based on the time period from when the outputfrom the rear side sensor 1101 b became ON to when the output from thefront side sensor 1101 a became ON (the second conveyance time period),and the present skew detection processing is ended.

On the other hand, when the conveyance time period from the detection ofthe leading edge of the document by the rear side sensor 1101 b hasexceeded the upper limit conveyance time period before the output fromthe front side sensor 1101 a became ON, processing proceeds from stepS1305 to step S1308. In step S1308, the CPU 203 determines that a skewexceeding the skew amount that can be detected by the skew detectionprocessing has occurred. Then, the skew detection is deemed to havefailed, and the present skew detection processing is ended.

On the other hand, when the output from the rear side sensor 1101 b isOFF in step S1302 after the start of skew detection, processing proceedsto step 51309, and the CPU 203 confirms the output from the front sidesensor 1101 a. The flow of processing from step S1310 to step S1315 issubstantially similar to step S1303 to step S1308 described above, andthe relationship between the rear side sensor 1101 b and the front sidesensor 1101 a is merely reversed therein; thus, a description thereof isomitted.

Furthermore, when the outputs from the rear side sensor 1101 b and thefront side sensor 1101 a are both OFF in step S1309 after the start ofskew detection, processing proceeds to step S1316, and the CPU 203determines whether the conveyance time period from the start of skewedconveyance has exceeded an upper limit value. Here, when the upper limitvalue has not been exceeded, processing proceeds to step S1302;otherwise, processing proceeds to step S1317. In step S1317, the CPU 203determines that the skew amount θo is unknown and the skew detection hasfailed, and ends the present skew detection. The upper limit value ofthe conveyance time period mentioned here is obtained by adding a marginto the longer one of the conveyance time period from the start ofconveyance to the arrival of the leading edge of the document at therear side sensor 1101 b and the conveyance time period from the start ofconveyance to the arrival of the leading edge of the document at thefront side sensor 1101 a. Therefore, when neither the rear side sensor1101 b nor the front side sensor 1101 a was able to detect the leadingedge of the document even though the document was conveyed for the timeperiod corresponding to this upper limit value, it is considered thatthe document has lodged (jammed) in a position that is upstream relativeto the positions of the rear side sensor 1101 b and the front sidesensor 1101 a in the conveyance direction, and the skew amount cannot becalculated based on the skew detection in the current status.Accordingly, the skew amount θo is judged to be unknown.

Returning to FIG. 12 again, upon completion of the skew detectionprocessing of step S1205, which was described using FIGS. 13A and 13B,processing proceeds to step S1206. In step S1206, when the CPU 203determines that the result of skew detection in step S1205 indicatesthat the skew detection has failed or the skew amount (angle θ1) hasexceeded the threshold, processing proceeds to step S1210. In stepS1210, the CPU 203 determines that the document has skewed significantlyor jammed, and stops the conveyance of the document. Then, processingproceeds to step S1211, and the CPU 203 gives notification of thefailure in reading. Next, processing proceeds to step S1212, the CPU 203performs processing for discontinuing reading processing by, forexample, stopping the driving of the document reading unit, and thepresent feed scanning control is ended.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the control of the skewand jam detection is not to be performed in step S1204, or when asignificant skew of the document or a jam of the document has not beendetected in step S1206, processing proceeds to step S1207, and the CPU203 determines whether the detection sensor 113 has become ON; when thedetection sensor 113 has become ON, processing proceeds to step S1208,and reading of the document is started. Here, image data obtained byreading the document is stored in the image memory 205. Then, processingproceeds to step S1209, the CPU 203 outputs the image data of thedocument stored in the image memory 205, and the present processing isended.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, similarly to thefirst embodiment, in a case where the skew amount has exceeded thepermissible range of document digitalization at the time of documentdigitalization, the reading of the document is immediately stopped, andthe user is notified of the failure in the reading. In this way, whetherthe reading of the document has succeeded or failed can be determinedbefore reading all documents. As a result, the failed document can beconfirmed with a short lead time compared to a case where the userconfirms the failed document after reading all documents. Furthermore,as reading processing can be restarted from the document that failed inreading, a lead time of re-reading can be reduced for the user.

Third Embodiment

The following describes, as a third embodiment of the presentdisclosure, an embodiment for a case where, when the skew amount (angleθ1) exceeds the threshold while a skew is being detected, notificationof skew and jam is not given immediately, and notification of skew andjam is given after the discharge of a document is completed. Althoughthe following description is given using an exemplary case where theskew amount of the document is detected from read image data asdescribed in the first embodiment, the third embodiment is not limitedto this, and is also applicable to a case where the skew amount isdetected using the skew detection sensors 1101 described in the secondembodiment. Note that a configuration of a printing system, a hardwareconfiguration of the image reading apparatus 200 and the like accordingto the third embodiment are similar to those of the above-describedfirst embodiment, and thus a description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for describing feed scanning control in the imagereading apparatus 200 according to the third embodiment. Processingindicated by this flowchart is achieved by the CPU 203 executing aprogram. Note that the flow from step S1401 to step S1406 of FIG. 14 issimilar to the flow from step S801 to step S806 of FIG. 8, which wasdescribed in the first embodiment, and thus a description thereof isomitted.

When the skew and jam detection is enabled in step S1406, the CPU 203proceeds to step S1407 and performs skew and jam detection processing.In this skew and jam detection processing, the CPU 203 confirms theresult of skew detection; when the skew detection has succeeded and theangle θ1 is equal to or smaller than the threshold, it is determinedthat the document has not skewed significantly or the document has notjammed, the skew and jam detection processing is ended, and processingproceeds to step S1409. On the other hand, when the skew and jamdetection has failed or the angle θ1 has exceeded the threshold in stepS1407, the CPU 203 determines that the document has skewed significantlyor jammed, and proceeds to step S1408. In step S1408, the CPU 203 sets asignificant skew detection flag in the nonvolatile memory 209 to ON,ends the present skew and jam detection processing, and proceeds to stepS1409.

In step S1409, the CPU 203 confirms the aforementioned significant skewdetection flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 209. When thesignificant skew detection flag is ON, the CPU 203 determines that theskew and jam have occurred, proceeds to step S1410, and executes skewand jam processing. On the other hand, when the significant skewdetection flag is OFF, processing proceeds to step S1415, and whetherthere is a next document is checked.

In step S1410, the CPU 203 confirms the output from a discharge sensor,and waits until the output from the discharge sensor becomes OFF,namely, waits until a sheet has been discharged if the sheet remainsaround the discharge rollers 319 and 324. When the output from thedischarge sensor has become OFF, processing proceeds to step S1411, andthe CPU 203 executes discharge processing and reliably discharges thedocument to a discharge tray by causing the conveyance motor 212 torotate by a predetermined amount. Once the discharge processing has beencompleted in the foregoing manner, processing proceeds to step S1412,and the CPU 203 stops the driving of the conveyance motor 212. Then,processing proceeds to step S1413, and the CPU 203 notifies the CPU 151a of the system controller 151 of the failure in reading of thedocument. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step S1414, the CPU 203performs processing for discontinuing reading by, for example, stoppingthe driving of the image reading apparatus 200, and the feed scanningcontrol is ended.

On the other hand, when the significant skew detection flag is OFF instep S1409, processing proceeds to step S1415 without performing theskew and jam processing, and the CPU 203 confirms the output from adocument presence/absence sensor; when there is a next document,processing proceeds to step S1416, feeding of the next document isstarted by driving the separation motor again, and processing proceedsto step S1403. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is nonext document in step S1415, processing proceeds to step S1417, and theCPU 203 performs document discharge processing in step S1418 and stopsthe driving of the conveyance motor 212in step S1419 after waiting forthe output from the discharge sensor to become OFF in step S1417. Then,processing proceeds to step S1420, and document reading processing isended.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for describing the feed scanning controlperformed by the system controller 151 of the image reading apparatus200 according to the third embodiment. Note that processing indicated bythis flowchart is achieved by the CPU 151 a executing a program that hasbeen deployed to the RAM 151 c.

FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a UI screen that is displayed when a jamhas occurred, and FIG. 16B is a diagram showing a UI screen that isdisplayed after the jam processing.

In step S1501, the CPU 151 a instructs the controller 2000 to startreading a document. Then, processing proceeds to step S1502, and thecompletion of reading of the document from the controller 2000 is waitedfor. Upon receiving the completion of reading, processing proceeds tostep S1503, and the CPU 151 a determines whether the reading hassucceeded; when the reading has succeeded, processing proceeds to stepS1511, an obtained image data is converted into an image file, and thepresent processing is ended.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the reading of thedocument has failed in step S1503, the CPU 151 a proceeds to step S1504and displays, on the operation unit 213, a screen for confirming whetherto continue the reading of the document as shown in FIG. 16A, forexample. This screen displays a message which indicates the occurrenceof the skew of the document and which makes an inquiry about whether tocontinue the reading of the document. Here, when “continue” has beenselected, processing proceeds from step S1505 to step S1510. In stepS1510, the CPU 151 a instructs the controller 2000 to restart thereading of the document, proceeds to step S1502, and again waits for theCPU 203 to give notification of the completion of, or failure in, thereading.

On the other hand, when “re-read” has been selected on the screen onFIG. 16A, processing proceeds to step S1506. In step S1506, the CPU 151a confirms the setting of jam restart processing. Here, when the CPU 151a determines that the setting of the jam restart processing is theintermediate return mode, processing proceeds to step S1507. In stepS1507, the CPU 151 a displays, for example, the intermediate returnscreen shown in FIG. 16B on the operation unit 213. FIG. 16B shows aview illustrating a display of a message representing an instruction forreturning the topmost document on a discharge tray back to the feedingtray 102 and depressing a start button. Once the user has depressed thestart button after performing such operations, processing proceeds fromstep S1507 to step S1510, the controller 2000 is instructed to restartthe reading of the document, and processing proceeds to step S1502.

On the other hand, when the CPU 151 a determines that the setting of thejam restart processing is the entire return mode in step S1506, the CPU151 a proceeds to step S1508 and discards image data which has alreadybeen read up to that point and which has been stored in the image memory205. Then, processing proceeds to step S1509, and the CPU 151 a displaysthe entire return screen shown in FIG. 10B. FIG. 10B shows display of amessage representing an instruction for returning the documents, fromthe first sheet, to the feeding tray 102 and depressing the startbutton. Once the user has depressed the start button after performingsuch operations, processing proceeds from step S1509 to step S1510, thecontroller 2000 is instructed to restart the reading of the documents,and processing proceeds to step S1502.

According to the third embodiment, in a case where a significant skew ora jam of one document has been detected after reading this document,this document is discharged, and then notification of a document readingerror is given. In this way, the failure in reading of the document canbe determined before all documents are read; thus, the failed documentcan be confirmed with a short lead time compared to a case where theuser confirms the failed document after reading all documents.Furthermore, when the intermediate return setting has been configured,reading can be restarted from the document that has failed in reading,and thus a lead time of re-reading can be reduced for the user.Moreover, when the document has jammed, there is no need for the user toperform a task of removing the document to address this jam, and thus alead time can be further reduced for the user.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium(which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one ormore circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) forperforming the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the systemor apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computerexecutable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functionsof one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controllingthe one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or moreprocessors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit(MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separateprocessors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions.The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer,for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage mediummay include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributedcomputing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digitalversatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, amemory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-95698, filed Jun. 1, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: aconveyance unit configured to convey a document; a reading unitconfigured to read the document conveyed by the conveyance unit, and togenerate image data indicating an image of the document; a notificationunit configured to notify a user of information; and one or morecontrollers configured to perform operations including: deciding, basedon the image data, a tilt amount of an edge of the document on a leadingedge side in a conveyance direction in which the document is conveyed,wherein the tilt amount corresponds to an angle of tilt to apredetermined direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction,controlling, in a case where the decided tilt amount exceeds a firstthreshold in a case of a setting that performs document digitalizationwith respect to the image data, the notification unit so as to givenotification of information indicating that reading of the document forthe document digitalization has failed, and executing, in a case wherethe decided tilt amount is smaller than the first threshold in the caseof the setting that performs the document digitalization, skewcorrection for correcting the tilt amount based on the decided tiltamount with respect to the image data, and executing the documentdigitalization with respect to the image data for which the skewcorrection has been executed.
 2. The image reading apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers further are configuredto perform operations including executing, in a case of a setting thatdoes not perform the document digitalization, the skew correction withrespect to the image data regardless of whether the decided tilt amountis larger than the first threshold.
 3. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers further areconfigured to perform operations including stopping, in the case of thesetting that performs the document digitalization, conveyance of adocument that follows the document read by the reading unit in a casewhere the decided tilt amount is smaller than the first threshold. 4.The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the one ormore controllers further are configured to perform operations includingstopping, in the case of the setting that performs the documentdigitalization, conveyance of the document read by the reading unit in acase where the decided tilt amount is smaller than the first threshold.5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the one ormore controllers further are configured to perform operations includingdischarging, in the case of the setting that performs the documentdigitalization, the document read by the reading unit in a case wherethe decided tilt amount is smaller than the first threshold.